Incidence and risk factor analysis of neonatal apnea in the representative regions of Guangdong Province / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To conduct an epidemiological survey of the prevalence of neonatal apnoea and and identify its risk factors in Guangdong Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The epidemiological data of neonatal apnea were collected by means of cluster sampling from 10 representative regions of Guangdong Province, and the risk factors for this condition were analyzed with logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the representative regions chosen for this survey, the incidence of neonatal apnea was 9.85% in the newborn infants, suggesting a generally similar picture of its prevalence in Guangdong Province. Maternal heart disease and anaemia, number of miscarriages, fetal position and present, oxytocin application, vacuum extraction, prolonged second stage of labor, and number of cesarean delivery were identified as the risk factors for neonatal apnoea, whereas number of pregnancies, the last antenatal examination prior to delivery, high-level antenatal examination hospital, antenatal examination times, and number of normal deliveries were the protective factors. Abnormal amniotic fluid, premature birth, and cord around the neck were the most important risk factors for neonatal apnoea, and adequate amniotic fluid volume is the protective factors for neonatal apnoea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rigorous control of the risk factors and enhancement of the protective factors can reduce or even prevent the incidence of neonatal apnoea.</p>